March Virtual Console list looking light for Japan

February’s virtual console list was small. Nintendo’s schedule for March is equally as lean, but it isn’t without a few highlights. Arc System Works has a Kunio-Kun game on the list and Nintendo has Metroid probably as a precursor to Metroid Prime 3: Corruption’s March 6 release. (Third month of the year, third Metroid game, coincidence?)

There is only one game I’m looking forward to checking out, Joy Mech Fight. Nintendo developed this 2D fighting game at the tail end of the Famicom’s life cycle. Since the Famicom had a limited amount of memory Joy Mech Fight doesn’t have “full” robots. Instead metallic parts hover in the air, disconnected from each other. Really strange, but that is what makes Joy Mech Fight memorable.

WiiWare debuts next month too. Perhaps, Nintendo decided to temporarily slow the Virtual Console train and put the spotlight on the original downloadable games. Of course, Nintendo wants WiiWare to be a success and there is a limit to how many WiiPoints people are going to spend each month. It’s either going to be on “insert awesome retro game” (Earthbound?) or Everyone’s Pokemon Ranch.

If you have a Japanese Wii here is what you can look forward to. (Note: games marked with a * will come out on March 4.)